Water heater



April 1947- H. B. BABSON ETAL 2.866

WATER HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 1, 1944 I v fiawaa,

April 15, 1947. H. B BABSON EI'AL 22,866

WATER HEATER,

Original Filed March 1, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Reissuecl Apr. 15, 1947WATER HEATER Henry B. Babson,

Chicago, and Chester A.

Thomas, Crystal Lake, 111., assignors, by mesne assignments, to LoseeProducts Co., a corpora- 7 tion of Illinois Original No. 2,408,403,dated October 1, 1946, Serial No. 524,538, March 1, 1944. Applicationfor reissue October 18, 1946, Serial No. 703,970

19 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a water heater, and more particularly to anelectric water heater of the displacement or over-flow type.

One feature of the present invention is that it provides an improvedheater of the over-flow type adapted to discharge hot water from aninner reservoir tank through a delivery pipe upon the introduction ofcold water to the inner tank, the introduction of cold water efiectingdisplacement and delivery of an equal volume of hot water; anotherfeature of thisinvention is the provision of an improved type of innertank; still another feature of this invention is the provision of anopening at the bottom of the tank, and a well of larger diameter in theheat-insulating enclosure surrounding the tank, in such manner that theinterior of the tank may be readily washed and cleaned; yet anotherfeature of this invention is the provision of a closure member for thebottom opening adapted to be received in the well and to make sealingengagement with the inner tank about the periphery of the opening; afurther feature of this invention is the mounting of the electricalheating element and the thermostat control element on the closureelement, so that all three of such elements may be removed as a. unitand all electrical parts subject to failure can be conveniently testedand repaired; still a further feature of this invention is the provisionof an improved arrangement for holding the inner tank in desiredposition with- .in the insulating enclosure; yet a further feature isthe provision of a pivotal connection between the upper water-holdingportion of the heater and the lower base portion, facilitating tippingof the water-holding portion for easy draining, removal of the closuremember with the electrical elements thereon, and washing of the tankinterior; still another feature of this invention is the provision of animproved inner tank construction with rounded corners facilitatingcleaning; and another feature is the provision of means at the end ofeach leg, in the form of removable spacing members and a cup-shapedholding member, for quick and convenient leveling of the heater on asloping floor. Other features and advantages of this invention will beapparent from the following specification and the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view, principally in vertical section, of a heaterembodying this invention; Figure 2 is a view along the line 2-2 ofFigure 1, looking upwardly; Figure 3 is a partial side elevational viewof the heater with the water-holding portion tipped over to draining andcleaning 2 position; Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional viewof a portion of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a detailed view of the pivotalconnection, along the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

The present inventions comprise improvements in water heaters of thedisplacement type. While such heaters are adapted for a number of uses,including domestic water heating, such water heaters have foundparticular favor on dairy farms for use in the barns and milk houses,and the particular heater shown here was designed for such a purpose.One type of electric water heater of the displacement type now on themarket is shown, for example, in Losee Reissue Patent 21,393 of March12, 1940. The heater disclosed and claimed here has certain advantagesand features, as heretofore described, not found in the heater shown insuch patent.

A water heater of the displacement type comprises an inner reservoirtank, a heat-insulating enclosure, supply and delivery connections, anda heating element and thermostat control adapted automatically tomaintain the water in the tank at a desired temperature, as F. The tankis maintained full of water at all times, delivery therefrom being onlyby over-flow from the top of the tank when a new amount of water issupplied thereto. The supply connection is arranged to deliver the newwater to the bottom of the tank; whereas the delivery of hot water is byover-flow at the top of the tank. By virtue of this arrangement, coldwater can be poured into the heater, and an equal amount of hot watertaken from the top of the heater without any reduction in temperature,the hot water tending always to stay at the top of the tank and, the newcold water at the bottom. With this arrange- .ment a farmer who wants abucket of hot Water need only walk up to the heater with a bucket .ofcold water, pour it in, and an equal amount of hot water is deliveredeither to the same or a different bucket. As may be readily seen, such awater heater is particularly convenient for dairy barns, milk houses andsimilar locations Where there is no fuel supply for heating, and wherehot water is only drawn off in relatively small quantities at spacedintervals. A heater 0f the type shown here can deliver practically allits contents at full heat when hot water is desired, as at milking time;and the economy of slow heating may be effected in heating up the newWater before the next occasion for using hot water.

In the particuar embodiment of the invention illustrated here, an innertank l0, which 3 may be of copper or other non-corroding metal, isformed of top and bottom portions Illa and Ifib joined at the center ofthe tank by an annular welded or soldered seam lilo. These top andbottom portions may be drawn from sheet metal to the desired shape by anappropriate stamping or die forming operation, with the desired openingspunched or die out therethrough. In order to eliminate sharp corners andfacilitate cleaning, all changes in direction of the interior tanksurface are by means of curves of substantial radius, as may be bestseen from an inspection of Figure 1.

The tank is surrounded by a heat-insulating enclosure comprising anouter metal shell ll spaced from the tank by several inches, andheatinsulating material I2, as glass wool, cork b'lo-ks or any otherappropriate material. The other metal shell may be of sheet iron orsteel provided with an appropriate enamel or other finish; and it ishere shown as divided into three portions. These comprise a top or capportion Ila, a main cylindrical body portion Ilb, and a bottom portionHe. The division of the outer shell into such parts facilitates itsmanufacture and also facilitates making of supply and deliveryconnections to the inner tank 10, assembly of the parts, and theinsertion of the heat-insulating material.

The top of the tank and shell are provided with registering openingsthrough which new cold water may be supplied to the tank, such new waterbeing directed to the very bottom of the tank by use of the pipe I3terminating near the bottom of the inner tank I. The upper end of thepipe I'3' is soldered or otherwise appropriately sealed to the openingin the top of the tank, and makes water-tight connection with aheat-insulating tube M, which may be of hard rubber or an appropriateplastic. This tube M- is connected to the supply opening in the centerof the shell cap I la in any appropriate manner, as by the use of locknuts. A pouring receptacle [5 has a flanged bottom opening adapted to beclosed by the stopper IS. The flange, as may be best seen in Figure 1,is a tight fit within the heat-insulating tube I l. With thisarrangement a farmer carrying a bucket of cold water may pour it intothe receptacle l5, place his bucket on the floor under the deliveryconnection to be described, and then remove the stopper Hi to permit thedisplazement or over-flow action to take place and deliver to the bucketa volume of hot water equal to that poured into the receptacle l5.

The top portion Illa of the tank is provided near one edge, and an inchor so below the top of the tank, with a flanged outlet opening adaptedto have a pipe elbow IT soldered or otherwise permanently connectedthereto. An appropriate opening in the shell has a mounting for thedelivery spigot I8 with an outer downwardly turned end l8a extendingdown below the lower end Ila of the inner elbow. Conneztion betweenadjacent but spaced ends of these elbow and spigot pipes I1 and i8 ismade by a heat-insulating tube I9 of plastic or other appropriatematerial. The provision of a downwardly extending end on the deliveryspigot creates a siphon action which, once delivery flow has beenstarted, draws water in the tank down to the level here indicated as 20.Flow does not start, however, until the level in the supply pipe l3 andtank has risen to the height of the horizontal portions of the pipes l1and t8. This provides'an expansion space in the top of the pipe,enabling expansion of newly denew 4 livered cold water as it heats upwithout dribbling on the floor beneath the delivery spigot. As will benoted from the immediately preceding description of the supply anddelivery connections, and the bottom mounting for the: tank to behereafter described, all connections between the inner tank and theouter shell include portions of heat-insulating material, so that thereis no loss of heat through direct metal conduction.

The bottom of the tank is provided with a central opening of substantialdiameter (preferably at least six or eight inches). During use of theheater, this opening is closed by a metal closure member or plate 2!.This closure member is sealed to the tank about the periphery of theopening by readily removable means which will be hereafter more fullydescribed, being better shown in Figure 4. The closure member serves asa mounting means for an electrical heating element here identified as 22and a heat-control thermostat here identified as 23. The closure plateand two electrical elements comprise a readily removable unit, thisarrangement having two advantages. In the first place, it enables thatunit to be taken out for servicing or repair or even to be shipped backto the factory as a unit; and the local dealer can merely hand thefarmer a new bottom unit which can be put in the heater without the useof any tools and without the need of making any connections, other thanplugging the other end of the electrical cord into an appropriate walloutlet. In addition, removal of this unit provides a large opening intowhich the arm may be inserted for washing, the interior of the tank, andresults in removal of all electrizal elements which might be damaged bysuch washing. It has been found highly desirable to provide meansenabling such washing of the inside of the tank at intervals, asotherwise the tanks may become contaminated (as by introduction of milkor other matter along with the water) and hot water drawn from theheater may have an odor.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 2 and a, the lower endarrangement of the tank and shell will be more fully described. As maybe best seen in Figure .4, the metal of the bottom portion Nb of thetank is bent at 10b to form an annular shoulder or flange encircling andconcentric with the opening, the edge of the metal defining the actualopening being turned down in the portion lilo"- An annular metal element24' of substantial thickness (as a half inch) is. welded. or otherwisepermanently fastened to the tank immediately around the bottom opening;and it is tapped with a plurality of holes adapted to receive thethreaded ends of thumbszrew studs 25. Six of these studs are shown here(see Figure 2), but it will be understood that any appropriate numbermay be used. The outer edgeof the closure member 2| is formed in achannel (best. seen. in Figure 4) receiving an annular gasket 26 ofrubber or other appropriate sealing material. With this arrangement theclosure member may be placed in sealing re;- lation to the tank, orreadily removed therefrom, simply byputtingv in or taking out thethumbscrew studs 25.

A cylindrical member 21, of heat-insulating material such as plastic, isadapted to encircle and closely engage the shoulder or flange Illb' atits upper end; and to be received in a channel portion He inthe bottomshell portion No, this channel portion defining an opening in the bottomshell portion of larger diameter than and reg-is.-

tering with the bottom opening in the tank "I. The heat-insulatingcylinder 21 defines a well within which the closure member 2| isreceived; and it provides a rigid connection between the bottom of thetank and the bottom shell member He, this latter serving, in conjunctionwith the connections at the top of the tank, to maintain the tankrigidly in the desired position in the shell during shipment and thelike. If desired, a heat-insulating disc 28, of feltor other fibrousmaterial, may be pushed up into the well to improve the heat insulationat the bottom of the tank. This disc or pad 28 may be provided with anopening 28a for the electrical cord 29; and a cut (not shown) may extendfrom this opening 28a to the edge of the pad to facilitate insertion ofthe cord in the opening.

The water-holding portion which has heretofore been described is mountedon a base portion here shown as comprising three legs 30a, 30b and 300,rigidly connected by a web or spider 30d. The back leg 30a (the legopposite the spigot I8) is not connected to the base portion llc of theshell in any way, the shell merely being adapted to abut or sit upon theupper end of the leg 30a.

the other two legs 30b and 300 are connected to the water-holdingportion by a pivotal connection enabling the water-holding portion topivot about a horizontal axis through and near the upper ends of thesetwo legs. The arrangement in connection with each of these two legs isidentical, so only one will be described. Referring now moreparticularly to the leg 39c, and the detailed showing comprising Figure5, it will be seen that a connecting bracket has a portion 3m fastenedto the bottom portion lie of the shell, and a downwardly extendingportion 3lb. This latter portion extends down several inches, beingpivotally mounted on the stud 32 mounted in the upper end of the pipeforming the leg 350. The front edge of the upper end of this pipe isprovided with a slot 390, so that the portion 3!?) of the mountingbracket extends out through this slot when the water-holding portion ofthe heater is tilted to the osition shown in Figure 3. The provision ofa downwardly extending portion 3lb on the mounting bracket is necessaryin order that the bottom of the shel1 may swing out and let thewater-holding portion go down to the down- -wardly tilting angle shownin Figure 3 without its being stopped with contact of the two front legsof the base portion; and the horizontal arrangement provides a concealedmounting so that, when the heater is viewed with the side and theWater'holding portion is upright the legs appear I to be rigidlyfastened to the bottom of the heater body. The axis of pivotal mounting,of course, must be sufiiciently spaced above the floor (preferably inthe neighborhood of fifteen inches or more) that the water-holdingportion may assume the position illustrated in solid lines in Figure 3,

This pivotal mounting arrangement has several advantages. In the firstplace, it keeps the well in the bottom of the heater sufliciently highabove the floor that the closure plate 2| may be readily removed whenthe parts are in the position shown in Figure 3. In the second place, itkeeps the bottom end of the water-holding portion sufficiently higherthan the top end, when in tilted position, that water readily drainsfrom the spigot I8. This enables the entire contents of the tank to bedrained out before the closure member is removed; and after the insideof the tank has been scrubbed out, it enables it to be flushed withwater without any of the rinsing water remaining in the tank at the endof the washing operation. Merely pulling a water heater with rigid legsover on its side fails to have these advantages.

In addition, as may be best seen in Figure 1, the lower ends of the legsare provided with adjusting means enabling the heater to be set in anexactly vertical or upright position in spite of a slight slope in thefloor. This is here accomplished by providing spacer members at thebottom of each leg, in the form of discs of metal about A; of an inchthick, these being here identified as 33a. and 33b. Any selected numberof such slugs (up to a reasonable number) may be held in place under aleg, as the leg 30a, by a cup-like holding member 34, which may be ofrubber. If the legs are initially provided with two spacer members undereach, it will be apparent that these can be shifted around, in leveling,so that two of the legs have one, and the other leg has as many as sixsuch members under it. This provides suificient adjustment to meet floorslopes normally encountered in dairy barns or milk houses, and providesa much simpler and more practical manner of adjustment than by providingtelescoping parts in the legs.

While we have shown and described certain embodiments of our invention,it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications.Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be madeWithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdisclosed in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A water heater of the character described, including: an inner tankhaving an opening of substantial area in the bottom thereof;aheatinsulating enclosure for said tank, the enclosure havinga wellregistering with said opening: and an inwardly and upwardly extendingbottom forming a depression; a hinge member secured to said bottom insaid depression; a closure member adapted to be received in said welland to make sealing engagement with said tank to close said opening; anelectrical heating element mounted in said closure member; thermostatcontrol means mounted in said closure member, whereby all electricalelements are readily removable as a unit with the closure member; and abase portion for tiltably supporting the device and having a pivotalconnection with said hinge member.

2. A water heater of the character described, including: an inner tankhaving an opening of substantial area in the bottom thereof; anenclosure for said tank having a well registering with said opening, theenclosure comprising an outer metal shell and heat-insulating materialtherewithin said outer shell having an upwardly extending concavity; ahinge member secured to said bottom in said concavity; connections atthe top of the heater for supplying water to the tank and for deliveringan equal volume of water overflowing from the top thereof, allconnections between the tank and shell including portions ofheat-insulating material; a closure member adapted to be received insaid well and to make sealing engagement with said tank to close saidopening; an electrical heating element mounted in said closure member;thermostat control means mounted in said closure member, whereby allelectrical elements are readily removable as a unit with the closuremember; and a base portion for tiltably supporting the device and havinga pivotal connection with said hinge member.

3. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 2,:including readilyremovable means for detachably maintaining the closure member in sealingengagement with the tank about the periphery of the opening.

4. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim -2, wherein the closuremember is of metal'and there is an additional member 01' heat-insulatingmaterial adapted to be received by and retained in said well below theclosure member.

5. A water heater of the over-flow type, in-

cluding: a water-holding portion including an :inner tank and anenclosure for said tank com- ;prising heat-insulating material saidenclosure having an inwardly and upwardly inclined bottom forming adepression; a hinge member secured to said bottom in said depression; abase portion for supporting the-water-holding portion;

and a pivotal connection between said base por- :tion and binge member.

6. A water heater of the over-flow type, includa water-holding portionincluding an inner tank having an opening of substantial area in thebottom thereof, an enclosure for said tank having a well registeringwith said opening, the enclosure comprising an outer metal shell andheatinsulating material therewithin, all connections between the tankand shell including portions of heat-insulating material, said outershell having an inwardly and upwardly inclined bottom forming adepression; a hinge member secured to the bottom in said depression;a.closure member for said opening, and an electrical heating element anda thermostat control element mounted in said closure member; a baseportion for supporting the water-holding portion; and apivotalconnection between said base portion and hinge member.

7. Apparatus of the character claimedin claim .5, including awater-delivery connection in one side of the water-holding portion nearthe top thereof, the pivotal connection being adjacent thisside.

8. A water heaterof the over-flow type, in-

cluding: a water-holding portion including an inner tank having anopening of substantial area in the bottom thereof; an enclosure forsaidtank having a well registering with said opening, the

enclosure comprising an outer metal shell and heat-insulating materialtherewithin, all connections between the tank and shell includingportions of heat-insulating material; a closurev member for saidopening, and an electrical heating element and a thermostat controlelement mounted in said closure member; a base portion for supportingthe water-holding portion; a pivotal connection between said portions;and a water-delivery connectionin ones'ideof the waterholding portionnear the top thereof, the pivotal connection being adjacentthis side andsubstantially'spaced from the bottom of .thebaseportion wherebythewater-holding portion may .be readily tipped to a position-whereinthedelivery connection end of the tank is lower than :the bottom endthereof.

9. Apparatus c'fthe characterqclaimed in claim 6, wherein thepivotalccnnection .includes'means ior'spacing the water-holding portionfrom the axis of pivotal movement.

IOnAWater heater of the over-flowrztype including: a water-holdingportion including an inner tank having an opening of substantial area inthe bottom thereof; an enclosure for-said-tank having a well registeringwith said opening, the

enclosure comprising an outer metal shell and heat-"insulating materialtherewithin, :all connections "between the tank and shell includingportions .of heat insulating material; a closure :member for saidopening, and an electrical heat, ing element and .a thermostat controlelement .mountedin said closure member; a base portion for supportingthe water-holding portion; .a piv-.

otal connection between said portions; and a -water-delivery connectionin one side of the water-holding portion near the top thereof, the

pivotal connection .being adjacent this side and substantially spacedfrom the bottom of the base portion, the pivotal-connection includingmeans for spacing the water-holding portion from the axis or pivotalmovement, whereby the Waterholding portion may be readily tipped to aposition wherein the delivery connection end of the tank is lower thanthe bottom end thereof.

11. A water heater of the over-flow type, including: a water-holdingportion including an inner tank and an enclosure for said tankcomprising heat-insulating material; a base portion for supporting thewater-holding portion, the base portion comprising :a lurality of legsand at least one leg having associated therewith, at the lower endthereof,a plurality of spacer members and a cup shaped holding member;and a pivotal connection between said portions.

12. A water heater of the over-flow type, including: a water-holdingportion including an inner tank having an opening of substantial area inthe bottom thereof; an enclosure for said tank having a well registeringwith said opening, the enclosure comprising an outer metal shell andheat-insulating material therewithin, all connections between the tankand shell including portions of heat-insulating material, a closuremember for said opening, and-an electrical heating element and athermostat control element mounted in said closure member; a baseportion for supporting the water-holding portion, the base portioncomprising a plurality of legs, at least one leg having associatedtherewith, at the lower end thereof, a plurality of spacer members and acup-shaped holding member; and a pivotal connection between saidportions.

:13. A water heater of the character described, including: an inner tankhaving an opening of substantial area in the bottom thereof, said tankbeing formed of two drawn metal end portions joined by a central annularseam and all changes indirection of the inner surface of thetank beingby means of curves of substantial radius; a heatinsulating enclosure forsaid tank, the enclosure having a well registering with said opening; aclosure member adapted to be received in said well and to make sealingengagement with said tank to close said opening; an electrical heatingelement mounted in said closure member; and

thermostat control means mounted in said closure member, whereby allelectrical elements are readily removable as a unit with the closuremember.

.14. Awater heater'of the character described, comprising: .awater-holding portion including anrinner tank having an opening ofsubstantial area in the bottom thereof; an-enclosure for said tankhaving a welhregistering with said opening, the enclosure comprising anouter metal shell and heat-insulating material therewithin, allconnections between the tank and shell including portions ofheat-insulating material; a .closure memberza'daptedto be received insaid well and :to make sealing engagement with said tank to close :saidopening; a base portion for sup- :portingthe water-holding portion; anda pivotal connection between .the base portion and :the

water-holding portion whereby said water-holding portion may be swungfrom a vertical position to a lowered position with relation to the baseportion.

15. A water heater of the character described, including: an inner tankhaving an opening of substantial area in the bottom thereof; aheatinsulating enclosure for said tank, the enclosure having a wellregistering with said opening, and a bottom; a hinge member secured tosaid enclosure bottom; a closure member adapted to be received in saidwell and to make sealing engagement with said tank to close saidopening; an electric heating element mounted in said closure member;thermostat control means mounted in said closure member, whereby allelectric elements are readily removable as a unit with the closuremember; and a base portion for tiltably supporting the tank andenclosure and having a pivotal connection with said hinge member.

16. A water heater of the character described, including: an inner tankhaving an opening of substantial area in one end thereof, said tankbeing formed of two drawn metal end portions joined by a single annularseam and all changes in direction of the inner surface of the tank beingby means of curves of substantial radius; a heat-insulating enclosurefor said tank, the enclosure having a Well registering with saidopening; a closure member adapted to be received in said well and tomake sealing engagement with said tank to close said opening; anelectrical heating element mounted in said tank; and thermostat controlmeans for said heating element.

1'7. A water heater oi the character described, including: an inner tankhaving an opening of substantial area in one end thereof, said tankbeing formed of two drawn metal end portions joined by a single annularseam and all changes in direction of the inner surface of the tank beingby means of curves of substantial radius; a heat-insulating enclosurefor said tank, the enclosure having a well registering with saidopening; a closure member adapted to be received in said well and tomake sealing engagement with said tank to close said opening; anelectrical heating element and thermostat control means therefor mountedin a single unit in turn mounted on said tank, whereby all electricalelements are readily removable as a unit.

18. A water heater of the character described,

including: a generally cylindrical vertically arranged inner tank havingan opening of substantial area in one end thereof, said tank beingformed of two drawn metal end portions joined by a single annular seamand all changes in direction of the inner surface of the tank being bymeans of curves of substantial radius; a heatinsulating enclosure forsaid tank; a closure member adapted to make sealing engagement with saidtank to close said opening; an electrical heating element mounted insaid tank; and thermostat control means for said heating element.

19. A water heater of the character described, comprising: awater-holding portion including an inner tank having an opening ofsubstantial area in the bottom thereof; an enclosure for said tankhaving a well registering with said opening, the enclosure comprising anouter metal shell and heat-insulating material therewithin; a closuremember adapted to be received in said well and to make sealingengagement with said tank to close said opening; a base portion forsupporting the water-holding portion; and a pivotal connection betweenthe base portion and the water-holding portion whereby said waterholdingportion may be swung from a vertical position to a lowered position withrelation to the base portion.

' HENRY B. BABSON.

CHESTER A. THOMAS.

